The theoretical and computational capabilities to address this question would not be available until the next century. Skipping ahead: in 2004 Ashcroft refocused his concept, arguing[1]} that hydrogen-rich molecules, viz. H\(_2\) , CH\(_4\) , NH\(_3\) , etc., could circumvent the challenge of breaking the strong H\(_2\)  bond by replacing it with a weaker bond, and also provide “precompression” (higher H density) in the experiment, thereby lowering the required pressure to produce what would be essentially metallic hydrogen. Section V reveals how remarkably successful this path has been.
